The Bird Friendly City

Spring approaches and the birds are rapidly migrating back to their summer homes. They are taking up residence across Canada, preparing to nest in our backyards, local parks, and even in industrial areas. We love seeing and hearing them return for the summer. With three-quarters of Canada’s population residing in urban areas, and many of our favourite bird species sharing those spaces with us…how do we make sure our urban environments are safe places for birds?

We chat with Tim Beatley, author of The Bird-Friendly City, and long-time advocate for developing urban areas that co-exist with nature and emphasize high biodiversity. Following Tim, Sara Jordan-McLachlan joins us from Calgary to discuss how she and other volunteers are working to make the city more Bird Friendly, and how you can strive for the same in your hometown.

Timothy Beatley is  Professor of Sustainable Communities, in the Department of Urban and Environmental Planning, School of Architecture at the University of Virginia, where he has taught for the last twenty-five years. Much of Beatley’s work focuses on the subject of sustainable communities, and creative strategies by which cities and towns can fundamentally reduce their ecological footprints, while at the same time becoming more livable and equitable places. Beatley believes that sustainable and resilient cities represent our best hope for addressing today’s environmental challenges. 

Sara Jordan-McLachlan is a Calgarian member of the Bird-Friendly Calgary Team as a community member with a BSc in Zoology and an MSc in Environmental Practice. She is a volunteer member of the Calgary Migratory Species Response Team, a group that works to identify and mitigate window strikes in downtown Calgary and a member of the City's biodiversity Advisory Committee.   She is also the current coordinator for Calgary Captured, a long-term remote camera study in the city focused on wildlife movement and habitat connectivity. You can reach her at [e-mail] or me personally at [e-mail].

Find out more about Biophilic cities here.
Find out more about Nature Canada's Bird-Friendly City certification here

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